San Antonio Spurs fans celebrate, but also dread losing Tim Duncan

SAN ANTONIO — Annual traditions are everywhere in San Antonio. There's the way the famed Riverwalk is transformed into a sea of lights at holiday time. There's Fiesta Noche del Rio, a summer-long outdoor performance of song and dance that dates more than half a century.

And of late, there's been the Tim Duncan Watch.

Unlike the others, this is one San Antonians dread. But if he goes out now, he'll be going out as a champion — for the fifth time.

San Antonio's 104-87 win over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night gave Duncan his fifth title, all with the Spurs. And throughout this series, speculation has been rampant that if the Spurs ended Miami's reign, Duncan might finally feel like the time is right to end what will surely be a Hall of Fame career.

"Just the close of a career. I know it's coming to an end," Duncan said. "Don't know if I'll ever have a chance to do this again. My kids and all we've been through, just a real emotional time."

His first title was in 1999. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a longer span of championships.

"Unbelievable feeling to be back here after that long and being with guys like this, a team like this," Duncan said. "Everything's changed. We've adapted. To come out here and be able to win another championship in front of this crowd, it's unbelievable."